Lock mechanism



Sept. 1, 1931.

.E. E. NEAL LOCK MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24. 1929 ATmRNEYs.

patented Sept. 1,

mcr-

lELlVIER n. NEAL, on NEW HAVEN, CoNNECTICUr, ASSIGNORTO PEERLESS simmersCOMPANY, on SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTSLOCK MECHANISM Application filed. October 24, 1929. Serial No. 402,188.

This invention relates to an improvement in look mechanisms. It isparticularly designed for use in handcufi, thumb cuffs, leg irons, orlike police officers means for looking a restraining instrument onprisoners.

I will illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention in theform'of a handcuff of the type in which two arms pivoted-to each othermake up aprisoners cuff and with a locking mechanism which permitscomplete respective rotation of the arms until a wrist is embracedbetween them and then locks on the wrist because the relative rotationpast the lock mechanism can normally occur only in one direction.

- One of the principal features of the present invention is to providenovel mechanism for the purpose stated which can be manufactured at alow cost, and to provide such a mechanism with other advantages than thelow cost. The various features of the invention will be brought out inthe following specification and annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of one bracelet of ahandcuff mechanism such as is usually used in sets of two connected by achain; The side plate of the lock casing is removed and the lockingmechanism shown'in place; v

Fig. 2 is a detail view ofthe boltmember which carries the locking roll;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pivoted wedge member;

Fig. 4 is a view of the type of key that'may be used for lock operation.

As shown, the handcufi consists in two spaced parallel arms 1 and 2which have a pivot pin 3 connecting them at one pair of adjacent endsand a filler piece 4 between theopposite pair of ends. The locking arm 5is mounted on pivotjpin 3 for complete rotation between arms 1 and2. Thearm 5 has a peripheral arc portion 6 struck from pivot 3 as a center.This are portion 6 preferably has a smooth surface over whicha rollermay normally contact with little or no friction. Arm 5 is mounted so theare 6 may pass over the opening of the lock casing. The latter is formedby filler plece 41 serving as its bottom and end walls and the enlargedends of arms 1 and 2 as its side plates. The side plates and fillerpiece 4: are ordinarily riveted permanently together. I

lVithin the lock casing I provide the U- Shaped or yoke member 7 withthe two legs 8 and 9 in horizontal position, as shown. The yoke memberstraddles the key hole lOof the lock casing. Its upper leg 8 has aroller 12 in bearings at the outer end of the leg.

Pivoted in the casing between its side plates is a V-Shaped block 13.Thelower edge of the block isfinished to make surface Contact with theinside Surface of lower leg 9. The

upper block surface is on a slant to act as a wedge and on occasioncrowd roller 12 between the wedge and the arc portion 6" of arm 5. l Acoiled spring 14 mounted in arecess in fill-er piece 4-normally urgesmember 7 to the left. 7

With the construction illustrated, arm 5 may rotate in onedirectioncounterclockwise (as shown) at all times until a wrist or otherobject-is embraced by the arms. In such rotation, spring 14 holds roller12 in position to contact are 6 in each rotation; The position of wedge13 is such thatthere is enough friction between the arm 5 and the rollerto hold the arms against movement until there is force enough tocompressspring liand release the wedging action. This provides enoughfriction hold to ordinarily keep the parts in place, until movement isdesired. After the arms are moved to embrace a Wrist,

arm 5 cannot be separated from the other" arms at the lock casing. Anyattempted movement of separation causes a complete 'wedging movement ofroll 12 between block 13 and arc'6'with. spring 14 helping. The

arm 5, so that anyretractive force on the latter wedges the parts moretightly together 'against'all movement in that direction. The block '13cannot swing out of: place with leg 0 9 lying between its outer end andthe bottom of the lock casing. The only thing which can springis strongenough to'place sufficient friction'between the roll surface, block 13and 90 ron the use of the key. The key and key hole are shown in theirsimplest possible forms, but it should be understood that any of theknown arrangements for making it diflicult for any instrument except thekey to reach through the hole and apply force. to a locking part iscomprehended in my invention.

It may be desirable to have the line of contact between parts 9 and 13at a small angle of inclination opposite to the wedge to permit part 13to drop slightly in the unlocking operation, and I have shown this inthe drawings. It should also be understood that member 7 has a looseenough fit in the lock casing topermit the upward wedging movement ofroller 12, as described.

It Will be clear that my new locking device is not susceptible to lockpicking operations in the same way as a ratchet lock on arm 5 would be.And so I do not need to put any 7 anti-picking means to guard thenecessary clearance between arm 5 and the top of the lock casing.

The cost of making a lock for my purpose, as shown, is far less than themechanisms heretofore used for the same purpose. There is nothing to getout of order. And the Whole device is particularly adapted for use wherea very simple and yet efiective handcuflf or the like is wanted.

What I claim is:

1. A policemans cuff for prisoners, comprising relatively rotatable armsto form the cult, lock mechanism on said arms, a roller and wedgemembers in said lock mechanism arranged to permit relative rotation ofthe arms in one direction and wedge the arms against rotation in theother direction.

2. A policemans cult for prisoners, comprising relatively rotatable armsto form the cuff, lock mechanism on said arms, a roller and wedgemembers in said lock mechanism arranged :to permit relative rotation ofthe arms in one direction and wedge the arms against rotation in theother direction, and a springpressed means to hold said roller and Wedgein normally operable position.

3. A policemans cuff for prisoners, comprising relatively rotatable arms.to form the cufi, lock mechanism on said arms, a roller and Wedgemembers in said lock mechanism arranged to permit relative rotation ofthe arms in one direction and wedge the arms against rotation in theother direction, a spring pressed means to hold said roller and wedge innormally operable position, and a key engageable part on said means forputting said roller and wedge out of relatively operable position.

,4. A look mechanism comprising relatively :movable locking arms andlock mechanism having a lockcasing on said arms, a roller in saidmechanism for engaging one of the arms as it moves past the lock casingmeans to support said rollerandmove itfrom one position to another forlocking and unlocking operations in said look casing, and wedging meansoperable on said roller to bind it into holding engagement with said armwhen the roller is moved for its locking operation.

5. In a locking device for application to prisoners, a lock casinghaving a semi-circular extension, a semi-circular arm pivoted forrotation on the end of said extension, a yoke member having one leglying adjacent one wall ofthe lock casing and another leg lying adjacentan opening from the lock casign in the path of said rotatable arm, aroll mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedge membermounted between said legs, and means to move the yoke member into andout of position to jam the roller between the wedge and the rotatablearm.

6. In a locking device for application to prisoners, a lock casinghaving a semi-circular extension, a semi-circular arm pivoted forrotation on the end of said extension, a yoke member having one leglying adjacent one wall of the lock casing and another leg lyingadjacent an opening from the lock casing in the path of said rotatablearm, a roll mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedgemember mounted between said legs, and means to move the yoke member intoand out of position to jam the roller between the wedge andthe rotatablearm,

said last named means including a spring v mounted near the end of saidlast mentioned leg, a wedge member mounted between said legs, and meansto move the yoke member into and out of position to jam the rollerbetween the wedge and the rotatable arm, said last named means includinga spring normally acting to move the yoke member toward the wedgeposition, said wedge being positioned for the roll to ride up intoamming position in one direction of rotation for said arm and away fromsaid position in the other direction of rotation.

8. In a locking device for application to prisoners, a lock casinghaving a semi-circular extension, a semi-circular arm pivoted forrotation on the end of said extension, a yoke member having one leglying adjacent one wall of the lock casing and another leg lyingadjacent an opening from the lock casing in the path of said rotatablearm, a roll mounted near the end of said last mentioned leg, a wedgemembermounted bet-ween said legs,and means to move the yoke member intorai er and out of position to jam the roller between the wedge and therotatable arm, said lock casing having a key hole located between saidlegs to permit the key to reach the part of the yoke connecting the legsto move the latter out of cooperation with the wedge.

9. In a locking device for application to prisoners, comprising tworelatively movable arms, a look casing on one arm having an open wallportion adapted to be closed by a portion of the other arm, lockmechanism in said casing having a roll in said open wall portion adaptedto contact the portion of the arm which is adapted to closed saidportion, spring pressed means to hold said roll in such contactingposition, and a wedge-shaped member underlying said roll to contacttherewith and jam the roll against said portion whenever the latter ismoved in one direction past said lock casing.

10. A handcuif comprising pivoted arm members arranged for completerelative rotation, a lock casing carried at the free end of one memberand having an open wall portion adapted to be closed bythe portion ofthe other member adjacent its free end, and locking mechanism in saidcasing comprising a wedging device operable out of wedging position bycontact with the rotatable arm member when moving in one direction andinto wedging position when moving in the opposite direction, saidwedging operation acting to direct the thrust of the rotatable armagainst the pivot of said arm members.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

I ELMER E. NEAL.

